Lij Teodrose Fikremariam is the co-founder and former editor of the Ghion Journal. He is currently the chair of Ethiopians for Constitutional Monarchy. A published author and prolific writer, a once defense consultant was profoundly changed by a two year journey of hardship and struggle. Going from a life of upper-middle class privilege to a time spent with the huddled masses taught Teodrose a valuable lesson in the essence of togetherness and the need to speak against injustice.

Originally from Ethiopia with roots to Atse Tewodros II, Lij Teodrose is a former community organizer whose writing was incorporated into Barack Obama's South Carolina primary victory speech in 2008. He pivoted away from politics and decided to stand for collective justice after experiencing the reality of the forgotten masses. His writing defies conventional wisdom and challenges readers to look outside the constraints of labels and ideologies that serve to splinter the people. Lij Teodrose uses his pen to give a voice to the voiceless and to speak truth to power.

A month and a half ago, upon witnessing Representative Ilhan Omar being targeted by the bipartisan Zionist and war by any means caucus, I jumped to action and defended her from bigots who weaponized antisemitism in order to silence criticism of Israel’s policies. Realizing that politicians have perfected the art of using human suffering as human shields in order to deflect attention from their insidious policies, I pushed back strongly against a coordinated campaign to…